Swimming

About Swimming

Council Approval: Required

Activity Permitted for: D B J C S A

Swimming is a Girl Scout tradition that builds fitness, leadership, and team-building skills. Your troop can swim in pools, water parks, or natural bodies of water like oceans, rivers, or lakes. Safety is one of the keys to having fun in the water. Consulta local parks and recreation department, YMCA, or American Red Cross for swimming lessons. There is a swim testprovided at the end of this activity checkpoint to document a girl’s successful completion of the swim test and to categorize her swimming ability level.

Learn More

• Marco Polo and Find the Penny are popular swimming games, but you can make up your own, tooor try these 24 Fun Swimming Pool Games • YMCA Safety Around Water: The Y: Safety Around Water • American Red Cross lifeguard training: Lifeguard and Water Safety Training • USA Swimming

Include Girl Scout Members with Disabilities

Talk to Girl Scout members with disabilities and their caregivers. Ask about needs and accommodations. Always be sure to contact the location and/or the instructorin advance to ensure they are able to accommodate those with disabilities.For more informationvisitMove Unitedhttp://www.disabledsportsusa.org/sport/swimming/ to find out about swimming inclusionand World Para Swimmingto learn about inspiring swimmers of all abilities:

Equity. In addition to physical and social-emotional disabilities, consider the history, culture, and past experiences of the Girl Scout members in your troop that could affect their ability to equally participate in an activity. Work with members and families to understand how an activity is perceived. Ensure that all Girl Scout members and their families feel comfortable and have access to whatever is needed to fully participate, such asproper equipment, prior experiences, and the skills needed to enjoy the activity.

COVID-19 Guidelines. Review the Coronavirus Safety in Girl Scouts section under the Standard Safety Guidelines. Be certain to consult your council’s specific COVID-19 guidance which can be accessed under the same section. Always call ahead to the vendor, property or facility involved to check their COVID-19 safety requirements as you prepare girls for this activity.

Emergency Action Plan (EAP). Review and document your Emergency Action Plan (EAP) before taking girls out for anyactivityand review it with the girls so they tooare prepared. Think through scenarios of what can go wrong such as an accident, physical injury to a girl, missing girl, sudden illness, or sudden weather or water emergencies.

Identify lifeguard(s). When using a staffed public facility, lifeguards will be provided. At beaches or waterfronts, make sure a lifeguard will be on duty. For swimming on your own, you willneed to recruit a lifeguard. Ask your Girl Scoutcouncil for suggestions. At least one lifeguard, certified in American Red Cross Lifeguard Training, and one watcher is present, always. When using more than one lifeguard, lifeguards under 18 may be included in the total when there is at least one adult lifeguard also present. Additional lifeguards and watchers may be needed; see Swimming Lifeguard and Watcher Ratios table below.

• Exception for lake, rivers, streams. At least one lifeguard, certified in American Red Cross Waterfront

Lifeguard course or the equivalent, is present for every 25 swimmers, plus one watcher for every 10 swimmers. • Exception for pools.For swimming activities in public pools, hotel and cruise-ship pools, and backyard pools, the lifeguards are at least 16 years old and have American Red Cross Lifeguard Training certification or the equivalent. When girls are wading in water more than kneedeep, an adult with American Red Cross

Basic Water Rescue certification or with documented experience according to your council’s guidelines.

Identify watchers. One adult watcher is needed for every ten swimmers. This person assists the group by watching for possible emergencies. Lifeguards and watchers are stationed at separate posts. They stay out of the water, except in emergencies. American Red Cross (ARC) Basic Water Rescue, YMCA Aquatics Safety Assistant, or similar training is the preferred preparation. Alternately, the lifeguard may be able to give watchers an orientation. Again, check with your Girl Scout council in advance.

These numbers are a minimum. The ratio of lifeguards and watchers to swimmers may need to be increased depending on the number of girls in one area, swimming level and ability, Girl Scout members with disabilities, age level and ability to follow instructions, type of swimming activity(instruction, recreation), type of swimming area, weather / water conditions, and rescue equipment available.

Number of Swimmers Swimming Lifeguard and Watcher Ratios

Lifeguards

1 –10 1 adult; see exception for pools above

Watchers 1:10 Ratio

1*

11 –25 1 adult; see exception for pools above

26 –35 2 persons, at least 1 is an adult; others may be 16 years of age or older.

36 –50 2 persons, at least 1 is an adult; others may be 16 years of age or older. 2 –3*

3 –4*

4 –5*

*Some states allow watchers to be under the age of 18, but in all states, no watcher may be under the age of 16. Check with your council to confirm age limitations for watchers in your state.

Clearly identify swimming abilities. These could be indicated, for example, with different colored wristbands to signify beginners, intermediate, and advanced swimmers. Swim tests can be conducted in advance, or on the day of swimming. The pool operator or lifeguard may determine the type of swim test, based on the skills needed. Some examples:

• In pools, the lifeguard can ask each participant to enter the water slowly, stay close to the edge of the pool, swim from one end to the other, and then float for 30 seconds.

• In lakes, the lifeguard can ask each participant to jump into the water, swim for 50 yards, then float or tread water for one minute. • In surf, the swimming test should be held in advance. The lifeguard asks each participant to jump into water over theirhead, swim 100 yards usinga combination of freestyle and elementary backstroke, and then tread water for two minutes.

Ensure swimming site safety. Check for the following:

• A posting indicates water quality passes health department tests and sanitation standards. • Shallow areas aremarked “No Diving.” • Diving areas are separate from other swim areas. • Chlorine levels are tested and maintained. Water should be clear. • The area around the pool is free of clutter. • No electrical appliances are anywhere near the pool. • The swimming area should be free from dangerous marine life and clearly marked. • No sharp, rocked, or heavily shelled beach waters should be chosen, if possible. • At water parks, do not dive or run. Most water park injuries are from slips and falls. • Participants should know their physical limits. Observe a water ride before going on. Use extra care on water slides. • Monitor time in the water. How long should participants swim? Swimmers’ ability, weather conditions, and water temperature should be considered. Often, 30-minute time periods are enough. • Swim only during daylight or in well-lit pools. • Diving is prohibited in waters of unknown depth or conditions. For all diving, the required water depth extends 10 feet on each side of the board or jumping point. If tides, drought,or other forces affect the water depth, it is checked each time before diving is permitted. Never dive off the side of the diving board.

Safety Gear

For Swimming Pools, ask the pool operator or lifeguard what’s available:

• Reaching pole • Rescue tube • Backboard • Ring buoy • Throw bag with line (typically 30 feet)

For open water:

• Paddle board • Rescue can • Kayak • Rescue gear

Additional Gear

• Goggles • Swim cap • Nose and ear plugs, for girls who need them.